Question about prop and performance - 210 Sundeck

[jethrotundra]

Hello,

New member, new Sea Ray owner.

Just purchased a 1998 210 Sundeck. This is our second boat and first Sea Ray. The boat is in great shape, was in storage for 5 years and has low hours. Full maintenance and tuneup done by the seller before the sale. Love everything about it except have a feeling that I'm not getting the motor performance I should.

We are in Utah and most of the lakes we boat are around 4000-5000 foot elevation if that helps.

Regarding performance: We can pull up a skier but the power out of the hole doesn't seem as good as our older, smaller Four Winns was. As far as top end speed, I top out at a max of 37-38mph with ideal water conditions and a light load. Friends with similar size boats are easily getting to 45 mph.

I don't absolutely need to go 45 mph everywhere, but I want to get the performance out of my boat I should.

Since at top speed the boat runs at about 4000rpm, I've been told by mechanics that my prop pitch is too high and I should get to more like 4800, but not to exceed 4800. According to the prop chart from Sea Ray's web site, we should have a 14.5x19" prop, which is what we have. (For the same motor in the fuel injected version it recommends a 17" stainless, but we have the carburetor motor).

So, we are going to borrow a 17" prop and try it and see if it makes a difference. Any thoughts as to any other reason why I'm not getting more out of this motor, or should I be happy with what I have? Thanks for any information.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Tough to say. Sitting for 5 years can be hard on an engine, depending on how it was put up. If the 19" prop is the correct one, throwing a different prop on it is only masking the problem.

Max speed/RPM is found with a light load - typically half tank of fuel and one person.

Try it that way - confirm that the engine is doing what it is supposed to be doing. Then, if you want to switch to a smaller prop, go ahead. But make sure the engine is healthy, first.

The downside to the Sundeck layout is that more weight (people) tends to be in the back of the boat - which hurts hole shot. Because of the layout, people can sit on the engine, instead of in front of it.

You checked things like bellows hoses? Search around on this site - there are lots of threads about what to "check out" when buying a used boat.

 

[bamafutbal]

i topped out at 50 with 2 adults 2 kids full tank of gas, will go check my prop
5.0 efi

 

[jethrotundra]

Well, I tried the 17" prop. RPMs went up to 4600 but top speed was only about 34. So it appears I have the right prop. Any other ideas why I might not be getting optimal RPM/ speed out of this boat?

 

[springer3]

.....Any other ideas why I might not be getting optimal RPM/ speed out of this boat?

Five years in storage is a very long time for any engine. Here are some things that can happen:
1) Piston rings corrode in their groove, and compression suffers.
2) Valve seats corrode, and the valves leak.
3) Gum forms from the fuel left in the carburetor.
4) Ignition advance is stuck.

I purchased a 96 215 EC that has low hours, and the engine runs below expectations. It has run better as I put the hours on this past summer. I checked the compression to address problems 1 and 2, and that was fine. I verified the ignition advance using a timing light, and that was on spec.

The exhaust smells rich, and one of the idle needles makes no change in the idle, while the other one has exagerated effect on idle smoothness. I will rebuild the carburetor over the winter, and expect the engine will run like new next year.

For sure run a compression test. If that checks out, verify the spark advance is working. I suspect that like me, you are in for a carburetor rebuild. I did price a new Weber 4-barrel carburetor: $950 for just the part (ouch!). The rebuild kit is not cheap at $100, but that is the way to go.

 

[techmitch]

Well, the first thing that comes to my mind since you mentioned your elevation. I would have to ask where the boat was manufactured at and also where did you purchased it from. The reason for this question is they use different outdrive gear ratios for different elevations so this would be the first thing i would check.

 

[Lazy Daze]

And, to add to the above, how far up where you trimmed? Is 4600 the most you could get, or could you have trimmed higher and gotten more revs? Just looking for clarification, that's all. With a 1.47 gear ratio, I think 19" is the correct prop. But, I'm not sure if the gear ratio changes or the prop for elevation.

 

[jethrotundra]

Yes, 4000 rpm and 38mph with the 19", or 4600 rpm and 34mph with the 17", was the most I could get after experimenting with the whole range of trim.

I will look into what gear ratio I have. I don't know where the boat was used when it was new, but it was in storage in Las Vegas and then transported to Utah to sell.

 

[RyBrooks]

I have a 1999 210SD with the 5.0L carbureted engine. The best thing I did was add a "whale tail" spoiler to the lower unit. We were having a lot of trouble getting skiers up and this was just the trick! Apparently, since the SD outdrive is set lower on the transom than most bowriders, it affects the trim of the boat. The "whale tail" makes a HUGE difference in trimming out the boat at speed and reduces porpoising as well. Dinged our 19" prop so I changed to a 4-blade 20" to get more hole shot, but this sacrifices speed.

 

[SSL1996]

From all that I've read, the 4 flute 20" prop is best for hole-shots and cruising. I have 4 young kids and top speed is not something that is critical to my boating pleasure...the hydrofoil will be added to my 2006 215 weekender's 5.0 stern drive in the spring!

 

[Scottbenson]

I boat in Utah too. I have a 180 bow rider and expermented with a wide variety of props. I finally settled on a 19 pitch Mercury stainless high five prop. It have me the best all around performance with an emphasis on hole shot and keeping on plane at a slower speed easily. I have a friend who used the prop on his chapparel 21 foot sunesta with the same motor as you and the prop is a major improvement on his as well. If you can try a 19P high five I don't think you would be dissappointed. I am looking for a good used 17P high five as well to use when I am heavily loaded.

 

[SeaVette]

Just a thought, at that elevation, would the carb. be runing rich? Maby install smaller jets. Jerry-Lake Conroe